Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-07-07
THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.
EXPLANATORY NOTES BY REV. r.
s. M'ARTHUR, D. o.

Lesson IL OF the international series
(rhird Quarterl, for Sunday, July 10.
Text of the Lesson, Matt. H., 1928.
Golden Text, Ps. xviii, 10.
Matthew alone records this part of our
Lords life. This he does in harmony with
the plan Of his Gospel. Christ's life and work
are the heart Of Old Testament prophecy.
Its fulfllment in him in most unexpected
ways, often through the malice Of wicked
men, is an argument for the inspiration Of
the Scriptures. We may sec in today's les
son how God can watch over his church ever
in its times Of greatest danger.
VS.. 1915. The Angel, etc.-This expression
in the Old Testament generally refers to the
angel Jehovah, the second person in the God
head. Strictly speaking, here it is an angel
in the ordinary sense of that term, and refer
ence seems to be to the angel Gabriel, who
luke i, 26 appeared to Mary to announce
the birth Of the Lord The word angel means
simply messenger. So.used, it is applied to
prophets, to persons, and even to inanimate
objects-to any person or thing which accom-
plishes Gods will. But in this application it
is limited to race of beings of superior intel
ligence and holiness who did Gods will by
ministering to the heirs of salvation. This
messenger appeared now to Joseph in a
dream. The case is peculiarly urgent; there
must be no delay. Egypt was at this time
subject to the Romans, but it was not under
the control of Herod. 1t had been for CEN
turies familiar to the Hebrews The way was
easy. The Jews were numerous there, and
had synagogues there 1t is certainly re-
markable that in the land where the people of
God had suffered the Son of God should find
protection. During the lifetime of Herod
they might not return, but his death occurred
probably soon after their flight. The pro-
phecy here cited is from Hosea II, l. Its
primary application is to Israel in Egypt, but
in the child Jesus it has its complete fulfill
ment. Israel was callsd Gods son, Gods
firstborn. There are MANY points of SINH
larity between Christ and Israel In Egypt
In him all types and prophecies find their
completion. Near the site of the Egyptian
temple is the traditional place of Christs
temporary residence in Egypt.
vs. 1918 The massacre of the innocents.-
The wise men did not return to Herod. 1t
soon dawned upon him that he was Knocked,
l. e., treated with discourtesy. This was not
the design of the wise men, but it undoubt-
edly was the conclusion to which Herod came.
Two motives now Influenced his conduct:
first, he would crafty his wrath against the
wise men; and second, he would be sure Of
destroying the child Jesus. All the children
all the boys This Is the true meaning of
the word Male children alone he desired to
slay-not only those in Bethlehem, but also
in the vicinity, the adjacent districts. Two
years old and hnder.-It is difficult to decide
on the exact length Of time here indicated. 1t
may mean all under two years, or all who
were entering the second year. If Matthew
adopted the usual Jew ish method Of reckon
ing, as it is likely he did, he would reckon a
child who had just entered the second year as
two years old. But the number of children
slain could not have been great. Bethlehem
was a small town Its vicinity was not pop
ulous Dr. Hackett, as quoted by DIR. G. W.
Clark, supposes that the whole number was
not more than twelve or fifteen Enemies Of
the gospel have seized upon this incident as If
1t wers an utterly improbable record. Many
questions also have been started by it. 1thas
been supposed by some that thousands Of
children were slain. This act of cruelty was
quite in harmony with Herods character,
and it took place probably shortly before his
death. We need not be surprised that Josephus
passes it over it silence. The chief interest to
preservation of Jesus. In the sorrow which
resulted from this act of cruelty the evangelist
finds the fulhllment Of the prophecy in sec
ondary sense Rama.-A city about six miles
north Of Jerusalem; not Ramah In the land
Of Ephraim, where Samuel was born and
buried.
VS. 1923 The Holy Family Returns from
Egypt-Again Matthew is alone In the
record here given Herod Is now dead His
death occurred at Jericho in the 10th year Of
bis age and the thirty-seventh of his reign, as
the result of loathsome disease. Again the
angel appears in q dream to Joseph, and
urges him to return to the land Of Israel
They are dead.-Not Herod alone, but those
who aided him in the diabolical work; espe-
cially his son Antipater, who was heir ap-
parent, and who would gladly seek the de-
struction of rival heir. 1t is said that five
days before Herod died he had this son, who
had aided him in the death Of his two elder
brothers, put to death. The return from
Egypt was thus brought about The sojourn
must have been short Archelaus received
half the kingdom on the death of Herod.
His title was ethnarch. The other half of
the kingdom was divided between Philip and
Antipas, each receiving the title Of tetrarch,
or governor Of the fourth part After nine
years the Roman Emperor Augustus ban
ished Archelaus because of his cruelty. He
slew 8, 900 Jews at once in the temple at the
beginning of his reign. No longer had Judea
q native king. The scepter had departed.
The sacred soil was Immediately under the
feet of mighty Rome, with governor whose
headquarters were in Cesarea.
He was afraid.-The presence Of ArcAelaus
alarmed Joseph. Again he was instructed by
God in a dream, and he turned aside into
Galilee, and dwelt in city called Nazareth.
Four times Joseph was honored by revela-
ton of Gods will Palestine was divided
into three parts-Galiiee on the north, Sama-
ria in the center and Judea in the south. In
Galilee Joseph would be safe under Herod
Antipas, who was gentle and kind as COM
pared with Archelaus. Nazareth means
branch; there the branch was to grow up.
1t was a small city under the hills of lower
Galilee, about seventy miles north Of Jeru-
salem and midway between the Jordan and
the Mediterranean. 1t was situated on the
side of the hill
Nazarene.-There is much difficulty in ex-
plaining this word. The word itself does not
appear in the Old Testament. The best ex-
PLANTATION probably is that Matthew does not
intend to refer to any one prophecy. He has
in mind the general language Of the prophets
II reRaru 10 Snrlst as tne ohnhCh, anu espe-
cially regarding his despised condition among
men.
POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED.
1. God still watches over the church, and
guards even his youngest and weakest disci-
pies from the wiles of their foes
9. Safety is found only in implicit obedi-
ence to the divine command
8 The enemies Of God are also enemies Of
one another, and will hasten their own de-
struction God thus makes the wrath Of men
to praise him.
4. Believers must be identified with Christ
in his lowly life at Nazareth, that they may
be prepared to share his glory in the New
Jerusalem. School World